FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

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What denomination is Emmaus?

Emmaus is a non-denominational university that was founded and continues to be supported by the Brethren movement, as well as many other evangelical Christian groups.

Who are the Brethren?

The Brethren are a fellowship of like-minded, independent local churches that are not part of any formal denomination. These brethren are a loose fellowship of like-minded, yet interdependent churches rather than a tight-knit, formal denomination. Each church is autonomous, but enjoys sharing preachers, camps, conferences, national service organizations, and mission-sending agencies. Their theology fits well within protestant evangelicalism. There are 800 congregations with 60,000 members in the U.S., and 400 congregations with 30,000 members in Canada (known as Christian Brethren).

The movement began in England and Ireland in the late 1820s. Christians from various churches, who had become dissatisfied with the formalism, clericalism and spiritual dryness of many British churches, met for communion, prayer, and Bible teaching. They sought a simple New Testament pattern of meeting. Some of their early leaders were John Nelson Darby, Anthony Norris Groves, William Kelly, C. H. Mackintosh, and George Mueller. Two of their larger centers were in Plymouth and Dublin. They rallied around several distinctives. The brethren do not ordain clergy, but prefer to emphasize the priesthood of every believer and lay ministry in the church. They consider worship a primary reason to gather as believers, so they break bread weekly, celebrating communion in an hour-long meeting with open verbal participation from the floor. They are led by a plurality of elders and use various preachers in their pulpits. The theology and practice of the brethren fit well within mainstream evangelicalism. Two of their best contributions to evangelicalism as a whole are plurality of leadership and a dispensational, premillennial view of Christ's kingdom. They were known for evangelism, missions, and personal knowledge of the Bible.

Are all the students who attend Emmaus from the Brethren movement?

About one third of our students come to Emmaus from Brethren backgrounds, while the remainder come from other evangelical backgrounds.

Am I required to go to a specific church?

No, but we do expect that all our students will be actively involved in a local, evangelical church. There are three assemblies in town, as well as a number of other evangelical churches from which to choose.

Is there an application deadline?

Our standard app deadline is July 1st, however, applications that are turned in after that date may be taken into consideration. Contact an admissions counselor for more information!

What is the minimum GPA required for acceptance?

A minimum 2.0 GPA is required for acceptance; students whose GPA is lower than 2.0 may be accepted on Academic Assistance.

Am I required to submit ACT, SAT or CLT scores?

No, test scores are not required for admission to Emmaus; however, they are required to be considered for a freshman academic scholarship. If you have already attended university after high school and have at least 24 university credit hours, your transfer academic scholarship will be considered based on your cumulative university GPA.

Do you accept AP and CLEP scores?

Yes, we accept both AP and CLEP. Credit received is based on scores. Contact our registrar for more information at jbennett@emmaus.edu.

What if I've earned university credit from another institution? Will they transfer to Emmaus?

It depends on the courses you’ve taken and the program you plan to complete at Emmaus. The best way for us to determine transfer of credits is to take a look at your transcript(s). Contact the Office of Admissions to learn more about this process.

Is tutoring available?

Yes! Visit our Academic Support Center for more information.

What courses do freshmen usually take?

All of our first year students begin with a year of Bible and general education courses, working toward the Bible Certificate. Click here to see the requirements for the Bible Certificate program.

What's the first step I need to take in order to get the Financial Aid process started?

Complete your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online at fafsa.gov. List Emmaus as a school to receive your FAFSA.  The school code is 016487.  After the completed FAFSA is received by Emmaus, the Financial Aid Office will contact you regarding the next steps that need to be taken.

What is "verification" and what does it require of me?

Approximately 30% of those who complete a FAFSA are selected by the government to be verified. This simply means that the government is doing a random check to make sure you've reported certain items correctly on your FAFSA.  If you are selected, the Financial Aid Office will notify you. You will need to complete a Verification Worksheet and may be asked to provide additional information.

How will I know what I'm eligible for in Federal grants and loans?

Once the FAFSA process is complete through the Financial Aid Office, they will send you an Award Letter. This will show you how the government calculates your financial need, and then how much you are eligible for in a Pell Grant and in Stafford Loans.

Are there any other Federal grants available through Emmaus besides the Pell Grant?

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is awarded to the neediest students at Emmaus, as determined by the FAFSA.  The maximum grant amount is $600 per year and there is a very limited amount of funds available.

Whats the best way to get my hands on other scholarships outside of Emmaus?

The simplest and most effective method is through a company called FastWeb, at www.fastweb.com. This is a customized scholarship search that sends you automatic email updates about scholarships available to every student in the US. Sign up for a free account and you'll see updates almost immediately.

What's the difference between a Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan and a Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan?

The Subsidized Stafford Loan is interest-free until 6 months after the student is no longer enrolled in at least 6 credits during a semester. The government pays the interest during this time, and the loan can be deferred as long as the student is enrolled. The government does not pay the interest on an unsubsidized loan.

I've taken my maximum amount of Stafford Loan available, but I'd still like to cover my remaining balance with a student loan. Are there any options for me to do this through Emmaus, or do I need to go to a bank?

The Federal Plus Loan is another Government loan that a parent can take out for the student. The interest rates on Plus Loans are excellent, second only to the Stafford Loan. You may also want to consider private education loans from banks or lenders.

Is there a limit to the amount of institutional aid I can receive?

Yes, a student cannot receive more than 94% of tuition in institutional aid, including the Iowa Tuition Grant. Since the Iowa Tuition Grant can only be used for tuition, institutional aid may be reduced so that a student does not receive more than 94% of tuition in institutional aid plus the Iowa Tuition Grant.